Envelope machine and the like



Feb. 18, 1930.

c. w. PETTMAN ENVELOPE MACHINE AND THE LIKE 2 sheets-sheet l Filed March22, 1929 Ella Feb. 18, 1930. c. w. PETTMAN 1,747,646

ENVELOPE MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A F;CTl--- Bp G.//. @df

Patented Feb. 18, 1.93()` FICE CHARLES WALTER PETTMAN, OF SYDNEY, NEWSO'TVH WALES, AS'IRALIA ENVELOPE MACHNE AND THE LIKE Application filedMarch 22, 1929, Serial No.

As a means ofl :facilitating the opening of envelopes it hasbeenproposed to secure a thread or cord by gum or other adhesive substanceon the inside of the envelope along the crease formed by folding overthe flap. The object ofthis invention is to provide efficient mechanicalmeans for so applying and securing such thread or cord. The inventionmay be carried out as a complete unit in itself, as an attachment toenvelope machines of known construction, or embodied as a part of suchenvelope machines, the constructionand arrangement of the mechanismconstituting my invention being such that the speed at which envelopesare made is not retarded.

ln the ordinary process of the manufac` ture of envelopes, the envelopesare formed and gummed in the machine proper and are then placed in thedryer, which is usually attached to the back of the machine. This dryerconsists of a framework carrying a continuous belt of chain 'links ofspecial construction, the envelopes being held between each pair oflinks and causedy to travel around the dryer back to the frontofthe-machine, by which time the gum is sufficiently dry te permit ofpacking. lt is during the travel of the finished envelope along `thedryer that the thread is placed and secured in position in the envelope.

ln order thatthe invention may be 'fully understood l will now describeit, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1is a side elevation (broken).

Fig. 2 is a plan (broken).

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. l is a part side view.

FigQ'is a part plan.`

Fig. 6 is a part elevation.

Fig. 7 is a part side elevation.

Fig. 8 is a part plan. l

Figs 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, and 17 are views of various details.

Figs. 3 to 17' inclusive are Vto a scale greater than that of'Figs. land 2. l

ln the Adescription which follows,'the invention will be described as ifit were built into step-by-step delivery envelope making machines. ltsadaptation for use on other i" tion. The thread arm B5 has a fixedhooked jaw B6 and a movable jaw B7 attached to the 349,155, and inAustralia March 14, 1928.

types of dryers will be understood without further description.

The dryer consists of two side cheeks A held together by distance boltsA1. These cheeksAhave formed on their inner sides ka track A2 for thechain A3, which is formed in the usual manner excepting that it has anotch A;1 in the bottom for the reception and correct positioning orregistration of the envelope placed therein for a `purpose as `will behereinafter mentioned. The chain Aa is driven in a step by step motionby a sprocket wheel A5 formed on the shaft A6, to which shaft isattached a ratchet wheel A1, which is opg' erated by a ratchet rod A8and eccentric A9 mounted on the shaft A10. This shaft A10 is drivendirect or through gearing from the envelope machine and so timed thatthe positioning of the openings between the links of the chain A3coincide with the operation of the machine. i

The envelopes are guided in their passage around the dryer by guide rodsA1A1 carried by brackets A15, suitable means of adjustment beingprovided to accommodate different sized envelopes.

Secured on the shaft A10 is a cam B, which causes a lever B1 tooscillateon its pivot B2. At is other end the lever B1 is arranged toopcrate a slide or carriage B3. slidabie or running .on ball or otherbearings in guides Bt Thecarriage B3 is formed with or carries apick-upor thread arm B5 formed and ar-y rangedso that it may be movedback and forth across the path of and between the body and ^'flap ofeach envelope, the links of the envelope carrier or vChain A3 beingformed with the notches A4 to facilitate this operastem BS. The two jawsB6 B7 are normal-k ly kept together by `a spring B9, but a projection orshoulder B1O on Vthe tail end of, or wherev found most convenient on thestem B8 is arranged to engage a stop B11, which thereby causes aseparation or opening of the jaws BG B7 just before the completion oftheforward travel of the stem B8. The jaws close again when theshoulder'B10 ceases to make 100 contact with the stop B11 on the returnmovement of the stem B3. f

At the side of the machine opposite to that on which the thread arm B iscarried is the thread carrier. This consists of a vertical spindle Ccarried in bearings C1 and.

capable of certain partially rotatable movements by an arm C2 securedthereon and having a pin and roller C3, which project into and areoperated by acarn track C3 cut or formed for that purpose in thecarriage B3. The spindle C is provided at the upper end with two bossesC5 C5, between the upper ends of which the thread arm B5 is projected atthe end of its forward stroke. One boss C5 carries a guide sheave CT forthe thread or cord, the spring C8 on the stem C9 being provided to ykeepthe sheave C7 on the boss C5,

and the other boss CG carries a movable jaw C13 on a stem C11, whichslides vertically in the boss C5. The jaw C13, formed on the stem C11,is normally kept closed by the spring C13, but it is opened at certaintimes by the upward movement of a disc C13 slidable onv the spindle Cwhen actuated by the leverl C14, which is, in turn, operated by the camC15 through the medium of the tappet C16 slidable in the bracket C15.Clearance C18 is provided between the bottom of the stem C11 and thedisc C13 to provideV lost motion.

The function of this thread holder is to hold the cotton in position forthe thread arm B5 to pick it up and to re-grip the cotton before it issevered so as to be ready to present it to .the threading arm again atits next operation. The operation is as follows Then the thread arm B5moves over to pick up the cotton, the thread holder moves the cotton atright angles to the path of the 1 arm B5v in position for it to bepicked up.

The cotton, in this position of the machine, passes around the sheave C7and is held by the jawA C10. Immediately the thread arm B5 has grippedthe cotton and'started on .v its return journey, the jaw C15 is openedAs the thread arm B5` to release the end. moves' back, the thread holderO'ets a partial rotation by means of the arm 3 and pin C3 andl cam trackC'1 in the carriage B3. This partial rotation movesboth kthe jaw C10 andsheave C7 out of the path of the gummed cotton and they remain in thispositionuntil near the end of the travel of the thread arm B5, when astillfurther rotation is given to the thread holder' to move the jaw C10into position to grip the cotton before it is severed.

Between the reel carrier and tension device, through which the thread orcord passes 1 in Aorder that the thread may be kept reasonably taut, andthe thread holder just described a gum or adhesive liquid bath D isplaced immediately beneath the thread or cord as it is stretched to thejaw C10. The reel carrier and tension device, which are of ordinaryconstruction, are not shown in the drawings. The thread or cord isgummed in sections just the width of the envelope, leaving dry spacesbetween the sections for the various mechanisms to handle it withoutgetting gummed up.y This bath D is placed so that the gummed section ispulled through the envelope and positioned so that it exactly coincideswith the envelope. The gumming bar D1, the exact width of the envelope,is

provided in thebath and is pivoted at D3,a

being caused to rise up out of the bath D to meet the underside of thethread or cord. Connected to the gumming bar D1 by links D3 are presserfeet D4 operating on the outside of the bath D to press the threadfirmly into contact with the gumming bar D1. The operation of thegumming bar D1 and attendant parts is timed and actuated through the rodD5, lever D5, and cam D7.

The lever E, which is formed on the end with a finger E1, is arranged oneach side of the envelope carrier and is, by the action of the cam E3and tappet E3 caused to press against the thread or cord in the creaseof the envelope, after it has been drawn into position, the pressurebeing slightly eased before the linger E is finally lifted clearthereof. The cam E2 is secured on the shaft F, which is operated fromthe main shaft A 13 by the skew gears F1.

`The gummed cotton having been pressed into the crease or fold of theenvelope, the ends are severed by the scissors or snips G mounted on thelevers G1 and actuated at the correct time by the cams G2 mounted on thecam shafts F, the levers G1 being pivoted on a fixed part of the machineor bracket carried thereby. The scissors or snips G are operated to cutthe thread by the links G4 attached at one end to a fixed point G5 andat the other to the legs of the snips G.

lAs it is possible that, in some instances an envelope may not be placedin the spaces in the envelope'carrying chain, the following mechanism isprovided to prevent the gummed thread or cord being pulled across themachine and on being cut off to fall into the chain and subsequentlysoil an envelope placed in the particular space At the end of the camshaft F is placed a cam H, which imparts a rocking motion to a lever H1through the tappet H3. The lever H1 is attached to an overhead shaft H3.To the shaft H3 is attached ,a second lever H1y having at its outer ,enda V shaped groove H5. The tappet H2 actuates the lever H1 through alight spring H5, a stronger spring H7 being providedto keep the tappetHL in contact with the cam H. lVhen an envelope in the chain carriercomes to rest in a position for the thread or cord to be placed in thecrease thereof, it will be directly underneath the groove H5 in thelever H4. The cam H immediately raises the tappet H3, which, through armB5.

the spring H5, rocks the lever H1, `shafts H3,

and lev-er H4, further movement thereof and of the lever H1 beingarrested when the groove H5 comes into contact with the envelope, andthe tappet H2 passes through the lever H1 and the spring HG will becompressed for the rest of the movement of the mechanism. If, however,there is no envelope in the chain at the time, the lever H4 willcontinue its movement and the spring H6 will not be compressed.

Attached to the shaft H3 is a cam sector H8 having formed thereon a stopH1. Held against this sector H8 is a cam roller J mounted on the upperend of a lever J1. To the lower end of the lever J1 is pivoted a slideJ2 adapted to slide between the underside of the lever C12 and the upperend of its actuating tappet C15. The slide J2 has an aperture J 5 formedtherein. i

The sheave C7 of the thread holder is mounted on the stem C9 in such amanner that it is capable of vertical movement, the spring C8 normallyholding it in its lowermost position. When in this position the cottonwill be held below the path of travel ofthe thread At its lower end thestem C9 rests upon the disc C15. The stem C11 of the jaw C10 has acertain amount of lost motion between it and the disc C12, as shown,clearance C15 being provided between the stem C11 and disc C15. The camC15 is formed with two rises. Y

The operation of this portion of the mechanism is as follows: If anenvelope is in position in the envelope carrying chain, the lever H4will be arrested in its travel, consequently the cam H8 will not travelsuiiiciently far to bring the step H9 thereon under the cam roller J.The lever J1, therefore, will not be actuated. The slide J 2 will remaininterposed between the lever C15 and its tappet C15. Motion of thetappet C15 will, therefore, be transmitted to the lever C14 and discC15. The first rise inthe cam C15 will raise the sheave C1 so as tobring the cottonwithin the path of travel of the thread arm B5 and itwill be picked up thereby while the jaw C10 will remain shut owing tolost motion due to the clearance C15. The second rise in the cam C15will raise both sheave C7 and aw C10 still higher to open the jaw C10 torelease the cotton.

Should no envelope be in place, the lever H4 will continue its movementand will bring the step H5 under the cam roller J, causing the lever J1to rock. The slide J2, being pivoted to the bottom end of the lever J1,will be moved to bring the aperture J 3 over the end of the tappet C15,into which aperture the tappet will work when actuated by the cam C15and no movement will be communicated to the lever C2, consequently thesheave C7 will not beraised to bring the cotton into line with thethread arm B5 and the jaw C10 will not be openedy to release the cotton.The various cams, which 'arecarried on shafting suitably placed anddriven, Vare shaped so as to give the desired movementfto the variouslevers and'other moving parts, while the speed 'of rotation is such aswill enable the various parts to co-act in proper relationship not onlyone with the other but also with the parts of the envelope makingmachine.

The operations of the various sections of the mechanism have alreadybeendescribed. The operation of the machine as a whole is such that thethread or cord is drawn from a reel through a suitable tension, and asection the length of the envelope is gummed. The thread or cord is thendrawn forward until the gummed section is moved into position over thecrease or fold in the flap of the envelope, where it is pressed downandheld against the envelope and then snipped at each end thereof. Theenvelope carrier moves forward until another envelope is in position andthe thread arm moved over to again grip the thread or cord and so on yHaving now particularly described and as-` certained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the same is to beperformed, I declarethat what I cla-im is 1. In improvements in or relating to envelopemachines and the like, means for applying gum or other adhesive liquidto a section of a thread or cord to be inserted in the crease of theenvelope asit passes from the reel on which it is wound, through atensioning device consisting of a bath containing said adhesive liquid,a gumming bar pivotally carried and arranged to dip into said adhesiveliquid and to be raised and pressed against the underside-of said threador cord, presserfeet linked to said gumming bar and arranged andoperated so as lto press said thread against said gumming bar, saidgumming bar being operated by a rod, lever, and cam from the operativepart of said machine, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. In improvements in or relating to envelope machines and the like,Lafthread carrier consisting of a vertical spindle carried in bearingsandcapable of certain-partially rotatable movements, an arm secured on saidspindle, a pin on said arm engaging a cam track in a carriage operatedby lever and cam, said cam being rotated by means from power supply, apair of bosses on said spin-dle, a sheave on a stem carried in one ofsaid bosses, said sheave being normally kept in a lowered position by aspring, a jaw on a stem carried in the other of said bosses, a discslidably carried on said spindle, a lever, tappet, and cam for operatingsaid'disc, said cam being operated by power supply, as and forA thepurposes herein set forth.

3. In improvements in or relating to envelope making machines and thelike, means for' drawing a thread or cord into position over the creaseof the fold of an envelope consisting of a carriage slidably carried inguides and slidably operated by a lever, cam and shaft driven from asource ofpower supply, a thread arm arranged to be projected across theenvelope from end to end, a fixed hooked jaw on the endof said arm, amovable jaw on the end of a stem slidable in said thread arm, saidmovable jaw being arranged to co-act With said iiXed jaw, a springactuating i on said stem, a projection on said stem, a fixed stopposition so as to make contact at certain times with said projection,asand for the purposes herein set forth.

4. In improvements 1n or relating to envelope machines and the like,means for securing a gummed thread into the crease of the fold of theenvelope and severing said thread when secured, consisting of a leverformed so that the end thereof may be caused to press on said thread, acam for operating said lever, said cam being carried on avstaf operatedfrom power supply, scissors mounted on levers on each side of thecarriage, sai-d leverbeing pivotally carried and operated by cams onshafts, said scissors being artcu` lated to links hinged to a iXed partof the machine', asand for the purposes herein set forth.

5. In improvements in or relating to en velo e machines and the like,means for controlllng the operation of the machine at cerv tain timesconsisting of a cam operated tappet, a recoil spring on said tappet, alight spring carried by said tappet and supporting a lever carrie-d on ashaft pivotally carried on said machine at the side of said envelopecarrier, a lever on said shaft and an inverted V groove on the end ofsaid lever arranged to dip over an envelope carrier, a sector platecarried by said shaft, a cam face on said plate, a lever operated bysaid cam face, and articulated to a slide having a hole therein, saidholed slide plate being interposed between a tappet and lever formingpart of the means for operating the thread holder as claimed in claim 2,as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I ariX my signature.

V CHARLES WALTER PETTMAN.

